Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1887-12-22
ABILITY OF WOMEN.


A0tIII OF WOMEN.
/ The StronS Administrative Capacity -
the Weaker Sex.
| The managing mamma is character
that stands out in history. Peculiar 70
no one time or locality. she is of thas
cosmopolitan caste which results from
her having flourished in all ages. all
| countries and among all sorts and con-
ditions of women. She is one Of those
great world-links that bind past and
present together. enabling rs to trace.
under different exteriors. those funda-
mental features that make of the hui
man race one great family. As the
embryonic mOther-in-law she has OBJ
tanned most unsavory reputation In
life and literature. and he must possess
the ro6ur ct as tripler who would enter
the list as her champion. Nevertheless
there is q creditable side to the man.
aging mamma which has not yet met
the serious recognition ittieserves. To
be successful in this sphere Of labor de-
mands diplomatic and administrative
capacity Of a very high order. and too
many men who heap scorn and ridicule
upon such a woman do not possess u
1.-THE of her executive ability. Ancient
legend typifies the fiasco of man with
aspiration in this direction in the in
structive examples of Danaus. With
what ease and skill would managing
mamma" compass so triiliny matter
as the settlement of fifty or moro
daughters. But the only man on re-
cord who attempted it so bungled tho
affair that he no: only achieved his
children's misery in this life. but con-
dsmned them to endless torment in
Hades. None of these old Greek stories
are meaningless, and we here see fore
Swallowed the fact. which is rs true to-
day as in the early time-that MAN.
aging mammas and not managing
papas are to decide the destiny of hui
mainly.
But. seriously. this famous character
epitomizes the great native talent.
amounting to positive genius. that
women possess for the conduct of af-
fairs. 1t has been stored up almost
silently and handed down until it has
now become hereditary. For centuries
women have been in Il great training
school. where their power as admins
traitors has been steadily developed and
expanded. The amount of organization
involved in the running of the simplest
household can be appreciated only by
housekeepers themselves. To plan three
daily meals for the 365 days of the year;
to train or bear with Incompetence i'm
the kitchen; to contriye with slender
means, and, finally. to so combine u
hundred details that they shall make an
harmonious whole. demands talent that
would do credit to a General. Yet, I'M
obtrusively, and as matter of course.
women have proved themselves such
administrators. Isit strange that when
their sphere" was limited to four walls
this power spent itself in managing not
only children. but, too often, the lords
and masters to boot?
This capacity has so gained during
generations of comparative inactiOn
that it is impossible to longer set bounds
or limits to its enterprise. There is u
large number of women whose house,
holds do not entirely absorb their ener-
gies, and there is a large class without
any household to conduct; the inalien-
able right of such to manage demands
and will more and more obtain its
natural outlet. One can not but rejoice
at the constantly increasing public spirit
evinced by women. especially in the
field of philanthropy, but we will ven-
ture to say that large proportion
undertake these enterprises from Il con-
scious or unconscious desire to manage
some thing. They act as presidents
and directors of our benevolent insti-
buttons, and display signal ability in
these positions. Their achievements
have almost surpassed the SANDER that
women can not understand business.
and to the men who invidiOusly remark
that women do not run things on u
business basis, but are constantly beg
ging for money. it may be answered.
that when women have a capital such
as men use in doing similar work they
will no longer beg for money to carry
on their various charitable enterprises
There has always existed very large
number of men who have so ground
down their wives and daughters that
the latter do not expect to handle
money. We all know those splendid
women who fare sunptuously every
dav, but who are forced to beg every
S. note from their masculine heads. 1t
is an i'll wind that blows no good. and
the pinching and contriving that so
many women have been forced into
under these circumstances has made
economy an instinct with them SO that
as managers they can achieve equal re-
suits with far less outlay than men.
Women are now doing valuable work
on school and church boards according
to the unanimous testimony OF men
who have observed them in these fields.
They are making successful business
ventures as proprietors OF scores and
hotels. They may not ut the present
stage possess that calmness and even
ness of spirit which would make OF
them judicious buyers aud sellers. but
as superintendent of mercantile houses
they would employ and control help
with an economy and efficiency that
would astOnish the men of the firm.
There is no doubt that women are to
compete with men in this field. They